DICT: Chinese hackers target Philippine gov't since 2023

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) confirmed on Tuesday that Philippine government agencies have faced persistent cyberattacks from groups associated with China since 2023.

Undersecretary for cybersecurity Jeffrey Ian Dy stated these attacks began as early as 2023, targeting the executive branch including the Philippine Coast Guard, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and Department of Agriculture.

Chinese state-backed hackers have penetrated the Executive branch and stolen sensitive data over several years, according to Bloomberg News.

Asked to comment on the issue, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) assured that systems are in place to detect and deter cyberattacks, including intrusion detection and prevention systems.

The AFP is currently coordinating with partner nations and maintaining close collaboration with government agencies such as DICT to enhance its cyber defenses.